Royal Palace of Portici | |
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Reggia di Portici | |
Royal Palace of Portici façade
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Alternative names | Palazzo Reale di Portici |
General information | |
Status | now used as Faculty of Agriculture of University of Naples Federico II, museum and Botanic Garden |
Type | Palace |
Architectural style | Italian Baroque |
Location | Portici, Naples Italy |
Address | Via Università 100, 80055 |
Current tenants | University of Naples Federico II |
Construction started | 1738 |
Completed | 1742 |
Client | Charles III of Spain |
Technical details | |
Floor count | 3 |
Design and construction | |
Architect | Antonio Canevari, Giuseppe Bonito and Joseph Canart |
Website | |
Official website (in Italian) | |
Invalid designation
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Official name | Reggia di Portici |
Type | Non-movable |
Criteria | Monument |
State Party | Italy |
Coordinates: 40°48′40.33″N 14°20′33.69″E / 40.8112028°N 14.3426917°E
The Royal Palace of Portici (Reggia di Portici or Palazzo Reale di Portici) is a former royal palace in Portici, southern Italy. Today it is the home of the Orto Botanico di Portici. The Botanic Gardens are operated by the University of Naples Federico II. They were once part of a big estate that included an English garden, a zoo and formal parterres.
It is located just a few metres from the ruins of the Roman ruins of Herculaneum and is home to the Accademia Ercolanese, the deposit for all found objects of archaeological site. This is in effect the Museum of Herculaneum, opened in 1758 by King Charles.
Infante Charles of Spain was crowned the King of Naples and Sicily on 3 July 1735 at the age of 18. He had taken control of the two kingdoms by military force opposing the powerful Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor. Charles and his consort Princess Maria Amalia of Saxony were favourably impressed with the area of Portici when they visited the villa of Emmanuel Maurice d'Elbeuf, the Duke of Elbeuf there in 1738. The couple ordered the construction of a palace in Portici that would act, not only as a private residence, but as a place to receive foreign officials travelling to the kingdom.